Argyranthemum plant named ‘Supa0186’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Argyranthemum  plant named ‘Supa0186’, characterized by its compact, upright and mounded plant habit; freely branching habit, dense and bushy plants; freely flowering habit with numerous inflorescences per plant; anemone-type inflorescence form with light purple-colored ray florets and red purple-tipped disc florets.

Botanical classification/cultivar denomination: Argyranthemum frutescens cultivar Supa0186.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Argyranthemum plant, botanically known as Argyranthemum frutescens and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Supa0186’.

The new Argyranthemum is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Cobbitty, New South Wales, Australia. The objective of the program is to create and develop new compact Argyranthemum cultivars with numerous inflorescences, interesting inflorescence form and attractive ray floret coloration.

The new Argyranthemum originated from a cross-pollination by the Inventor in July, 1998, of a proprietary selection of Argyranthemum frutescens identified as code number DMsel.24, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent, with a proprietary selection of Argyranthemum frutescens identified as code number PS169, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Argyranthemum was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controllled environment in Cobbitty, New South Wales, Australia in October, 2000. The selection of the new Argyranthemum was based on its attractive inflorescence form and ray floret coloration.

Asexual reproduction of the new Argyranthemum by terminal cuttings in a controlled environment in Cobbitty, New South Wales, Australia since October, 2002, has shown that the unique features of this new Argyranthemum are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new Argyranthemum has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following characteristics have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be basic characteristics of ‘Supa0186’ and distinguish the new Argyranthemum as a new and disctinct cultivar:

-   -   1. Compact, upright and mounded plant habit.     -   2. Freely branching habit, dense and bushy plants.     -   3. Freely flowering habit with numerous inflorescences per         plant.     -   4. Anemone inflorescence form with light purple-colored ray         florets and red purple-tipped disc florets.

Plants of the new Argyranthemum differ from plants of the female parent selection primarily in floret coloration as plants of the female parent selection have pink-colored ray and disc florets. Plants of the new Argyranthemum differ from plants of the male parent selection primarily in inflorescence form as plants of the male parent selection have daisy-type inflorescences. In addition, plants of the new Argyranthemum are not as compact as plants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Argyranthemum can be compared to plants of the cultivar Supacrest, disclosed in U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 10/862,858. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Cobbitty, New South Wales, Australia, plants of the new Argyranthemum differed primarily from plants of the cultivar Supacrest in floret coloration as plants of the cultivar Supacrest had purple-colored ray florets and yellow-colored disc florets. In addition, plants of the new Argyranthemum had smaller inflorescences than plants of the cultivar Supacrest.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Argyranthemum.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Supa0186’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a close-up view of typical inflorescences of ‘Supa0186’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs, following observations and averaged measurements describe plants grown in Encinitas, Calif., in an outdoor nursery under full sunlight during the winter and spring with day temperatures ranging from 15 to 24° C. and night temperatures ranging from 10 to 19° C. Plants were grown in one-gallon containers with one plant per container. Plants were pinched one time about five weeks after planting. Plants had been growing for about 15 weeks when the photographs and description were taken. Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Argyranthemum frutescens cultivar     Supa0186. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female or seed parent.—Proprietary selection of             Argyranthemum frutescens identified as code number DMsel.24,             not patented.         -   Male or pollen parent.—Proprietary selection of             Argyranthemum frutescens identified as code number PS169,             not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots.—About 10 days at 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—About three weeks at 20°             C.         -   Root description.—Fibrous, fine; white in color.         -   Rooting description.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   General appearance.—Inverted triangle; compact, upright and             mounded plant form with dense foliage and inflorescences             held above and beyond the foliage. Moderately vigorous to             vigorous growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 30 cm.         -   Plant width, single plant.—About 50 cm.         -   Lateral branch description.—Quantity per plant: About 16             primary lateral branches. Length: About 11 cm. Diameter:             About 4 mm. Internode length: About 1.2 cm. Aspect: Upright             to outwardly spreading. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color:             146C.         -   Foliage description.—Arrangement: Alternate, simple. Length:             About 4.7 cm. Width: About 3 cm. Shape: Pinnatifid, deeply             and finely dissected. Apex: Acute. Base: Attenuate. Margin:             Entire; deeply and finely dissected; sinuses parallel.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous.             Venation pattern: Pinnate. Petiole length: About 2.5 cm.             Petiole diameter: About 3 mm. Petiole texture, upper and             lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Developing foliage,             upper surface: 147A. Developing foliage, lower surface:             146A. Fully expanded foliage, upper surface: 147A. Fully             expanded foliage, lower surface: 147B. Venation, upper             surface: 147B. Venation, lower surface: 147C. Petiole, upper             and lower surfaces: 147B. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Appearance.—Anemone-type inflorescence form with ligulate             ray florets. Disc and ray florets develop acropetally on a             capitulum. Inflorescences held upright and outwardly on             terminal and axillary peduncles. Inflorescences positioned             perpendicular to the peduncles. Inflorescences persistent.         -   Flowering response.—Under natural conditions, plant flower             from spring to early fall in Southern California; plants             flower continuous during this period.         -   Inflorescence longevity.—Inflorescences last about ten days             on the plant.         -   Quantity of inflorescences.—Freely flowering, about 16             inflorescences per lateral branch.         -   Fragrance.—Slightly sour.         -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter: About 4.5 cm. Depth (height):             About 1.2 cm. Diameter of disc: About 2 cm. Receptacle             height: About 5 mm. Receptacle diameter: About 1.5 cm.         -   Inflorescence buds, at stage of showing color.—Height: About             1.2 cm. Diameter: About 8 mm. Shape: Ovoid. Color: 80C to             80D.         -   Ray florets.—Quantity per inflorescence: About 23 arranged             in a single whorl. Shape: Ligulate. Length: About 2 cm.             Width: About 5 mm. Apex: Emarginate. Base: Acute. Margin:             Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, satiny.             Aspect: Initially upright; when mature, horizontal to the             peduncle and eventually reflexing. Color: When opening,             upper surface: 75D; towards the apex, 75B to 75C. When             opening, lower surface: 75D. Fully opened, upper surface:             75C; towards the base, 155D; color becoming closer to 75D             and eventually close to 155D. Fully opened, lower surface:             75D.         -   Disc florets.—Arrangement: Massed at the center of the             inflorescence. Quantity per inflorescence: About 142. Shape:             Tubular, enlarged; apex, five-pointed; base, fused. Length:             About 6 mm. Diameter, apex: About 3 mm. Diameter, base: Less             than 1 mm. Color: Immature: 60A. Mature, apex: 71C. Mature,             mid-section and base: 155D.         -   Involucral bracts (phyllaries).—Appearance: Scale-like;             margins, papery. Quantity per inflorescence: About 26.             Length: About 4 mm. Width: About 2 mm. Shape: Elliptic.             Apex: Acute. Base: Truncate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper             and lower surfaces: Glabrous, smooth. Color, upper and lower             surfaces: 144B.         -   Peduncle.—Strength: Moderately strong; wiry. Aspect: Upright             to about 45° from vertical. Length, terminal inflorescence:             About 8.2 cm. Length, fourth inflorescence: About 11.5 cm.             Diameter: About 1.5 mm. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color:             144A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Present on disc florets             only. Quantity per floret: Five. Anther shape: Oblong.             Anther length: Less than 1 mm. Anther color: 17A. Amount of             pollen: Scarce. Pollen color: 17A. Gynoecium: Present on ray             and disc florets. Quantity per floret: One. Pistil length:             About 7 mm. Stigma shape: Two-parted. Stigma color: 12C.             Style length: About 5 mm. Style color: 12D. Ovary color:             145D. Seed/fruit: Seed and fruit production has not been             observed. -   Disease/pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests common to     Argyranthemums has not been observed on plants grown under     commercial conditions. -   Temperature/weather tolerance: Plants of the new Argyranthemum have     been observed to be tolerant to rain, wind and to temperatures from     −1 to 30° C. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Argyranthemum plant named ‘Supa0186’, as illustrated and described. 